Ran across this PDF today.

Some good stuff in here.

http://www.supercub.co.nz/cowboysC185.pdf

That really is a little gem. Lots of good tips and humor.

The author seems a little shy about taking credit... might have to post this in the knowledge base.

Zzz wrote:The author seems a little shy about taking credit... might have to post this in the knowledge base.

Sounds like he wouldn't mind.

Great Story along with a truck load of info!!
Should be mandatory for new 180-185 owners/pilots!!

I find it interesting that he starts off saying you should read and follow the AFM, but then suggests several procedures that are contrary to the AFM.

And, based on his comments regarding overloading, I'd say he isn't real careful in a number of ways.....these airplanes really are not fun to fly heavy in any case. An this from a guy who flew them legally at high weights, and never intends to again.

Judging from many of the "problems" he describes, he must have been flying junk airplanes with either poor or non existent maintenance. I've flown 185s more than 5000 hours, and been around a lot of others that were being worked hard as well, and I've never heard of many of the problems he describes here.

But I suppose it's a fun read in any case. There are some good thoughts in there, but unfortunately mixed in with some significant BS.

But DO read the AFM, and if you can find a copy of an AFM from a 1985 model, read that one, they're available from Cessna. Contrary to his comment about all the extra pages being added as CYA, I found there to be a lot of additional information in the late model AFM, compared to early ones. And significant boiler plate too, but well worth ordering a 1985 AFM in my opinion.

I've flown a couple 1961 models, a really nice, light 1967 (which, by the way didn't have a fuel selector....it was an option, even on the mid to late sixties airplanes, and I liked it. And a couple from the seventies, and a lot of hours in a really sweet 85 model that I picked up with 22 hours on the tach. That was one of my favorites. They're all good, and his point of getting some dual with an experienced 185 driver is good advice.

MTV

Sorry for dredging up the old thread, but.....
Hoping someone somewhere might have a copy of the other cowboy's guide - for the BN-2 Islander. It was a good read too but seems the website is down.

Appears that the link has gone cold. I somehow still have a copy that I think would be right at home in the knowledge base. Should I shoot you an email @Zzz?

pilotryan wrote:Appears that the link has gone cold. I somehow still have a copy that I think would be right at home in the knowledge base. Should I shoot you an email @Zzz?

Sure. Thanks.

Thanks Ryan for sending along the PDF. I converted it into a KB article:

https://backcountrypilot.org/knowledge- ... cessna-185

I have read that several times and it is a very good introduction to the 185. I think it is a bit dates when it comes to engine operation in a couple of areas but other than that its the goto article for new and old 185 drivers.